Lessons in learning as Leeds pupils aim to be top of the class

The centre, run by national education charity IntoUniversity, has been opened in partnership with the Leeds University.

It is working with children from primary school upwards to raise their attainment and aspirations.

The IntoUniversity Leeds South centre based at Hillside, Beeston Road, is working with four primary schools and three secondary schools in the city and has seen dozens of families sign their children up for extra support. Sessions for around 30 children at a time are run after school, while centre staff visit schools during the day.

Centre leader Ellie Rowley. “The community has been really welcoming.

“We have been fully subscribed from the start.

“All the organizations which work with young people in this area have been really supportive of what we are doing.”

Schools taking part include Hunslet Moor, Hugh Gaitskell, New Bewerley and Greenmount primaries, Lawnswood and Cockburn high schools, the South Leeds Academy and the Elliott Hudson College.

The new centre is close to the headquarters of supermarket chain Asda and has been supported by a £345,000 grant from the Asda Foundation and funding from The Queen’s Trust.

The foundation chairman Alex Simpson said: “This is the biggest commitment made by the Asda Foundation to date in Leeds, so we are delighted to support this project.”